Hello,

First, let me explain what my problem is: quite simply, my computer will not boot. When I turn it on, it will make the normal power-up sound, with fans turning and the normal gargling sound of the hard drive. However, when I turn it on, the HDD LED light will stay on, and it will go into a constant sequence: HD loading gargle, scan for CD-ROM, stop for a few seconds, then goes back to the HD loading sound. It continues to go into this constant cycle until I turn it off. Resetting it just starts the process over again.

Before this, however, the computer would boot up fine, but my monitor would never respond, so I couldn't see what I was doing. (I know this because I recognize the sequence of sounds that the HD makes when it boots up) This incident happened spontaneously: it was working normally and fine the day before.

After looking up a few random articles and finding a suggestion about removing a video card, I decided to try it: I removed the video card and put my monitor into the port for the on-board video card. After that, it worked as normal for one boot. The next time I tried to boot, it would get stuck right before it boots up Windows XP, so I went into BIOS and selected "Reset to Fail-Safe Defaults", saved and quit, and let it boot. It worked again.

I then decided to update the BIOS, and so I did that (I double checked and made sure it was the right one). It didn't do much, though.

Then, for some out-worldly reason, I decided to try "Reset to Optimized Defaults". After that, it began to do that whole sequence.

Would anyone have any idea as to why this is happening?

As for current specifications:

ECS 661FX-M7
Intel Pentium 4 3Ghz
512MB RAM

Thanks in advance!

those ecs motherboards are not regarded highly in computerdom.

I would also like to mention that I have also tried to clear CMOS by removing my battery and waiting for half an hour, switching the jumper for half an hour, and doing a combination of both with no avail.

mountain: Well, I am aware of that now, unfortunately. Haha.

You don't have to remove the battery, all you need to do is use the jumper. And you don't have to wait 30 minutes...30 secs is more than enough. However, the power cord MUST be unplugged or CMOS will not clear.

Regardless, I highly doubt the BIOS was ever your problem. It may be now though because I'm sure your settings are messed up. Default settings might get you going, but the BIOS really needs to be manually configured to best match your hardware.

From your manual:

"The fail-safe defaults place no great demands on the system and are generally stable. If your system is not functioning correctly, try installing the fail-safe defaults as a first step in getting your system working properly again."

"The optimized defaults place demands on the system that may be greater than the performance level of the components, such as the CPU and the memory. You can cause fatal errors or instability if you install the optimized defaults when your hardware does not support them."

I don't necessarily agree with "mountain" about ECS/EliteGroup motherboards. They've really cleaned up their act & have been pushing out some damn fine boards lately. The 661FX-M7 isn't a crappy board because it's made by ECS, it's a crappy board because it's based on an SiS chipset.

"You don't have to remove the battery, all you need to do is use the jumper. And you don't have to wait 30 minutes...30 secs is more than enough. However, the power cord MUST be unplugged or CMOS will not clear."

I have done the following for the jumper, with it unplugged, but it will not reset for some reason. That was when I then resorted to removing the battery, then trying both at the same time.

I have left the jumper in the clear CMOS position in different time frames - seconds, to minutes, to hours - , but it still doesn't work.

"I have left the jumper in the clear CMOS position in different time frames - seconds, to minutes, to hours - , but it still doesn't work."

What doesn't work? You mean you still can't bootup? or CMOS isn't clearing?

If you access the BIOS after using the ClearCMOS jumper & the year has reset to some date in 2006 (or 2005), it worked.

If you can't bootup at all, I doubt your problem is BIOS related. Start looking elsewhere...bad power supply? Overheated CPU? CPU fan dust clogged or not working?

Well, here's just a run-down:

I don't think it overheated (it does stay at a constant 45, which I know is kinda high, but I don't think that's the problem).

I'm not sure about the power supply either, since it hasn't had a problem before. It could be, though. I'm kinda afraid to take it out and trying with another since the case is ridiculously small. This will probably be my last resort if it's honestly that. I wouldn't see why, though, since the computer turns on just fine; it's just booting up that is what's not happening.

I've cleaned the CPU fan with canned air (but carefully) recently, so it shouldn't be that either.

It was the video card before, but now it doesn't seem like that's the problem.

I haven't added anything recently; I've only just removed the video card.

When I said "it" didn't work, I meant it not booting up, given that it was the BIOS settings that were causing the problem.

And yes, in case you were puzzled by how I'm posting here, I'm not posting with the computer with the problem. haha.

Thank you guys for your input, though!

can you get into cmos, bios if you can well thats a start do a fail safe,default, save it, also look it see if your hard drive is being detected in the bios try that ,

It sounds like your hard drive may be defective. It shouldn't make more than a faint rumbling sound while booting.
Check your hard drive.
See the latter part of response 1 in this:
http://www.computing.net/windows95/...

Again, I am unable to access BIOS. It will not go any further than make the HD spin and the CD spin, then repeat its cycle.

If the HD was defective, I should still be able to at least boot into BIOS anyhow. Nonetheless, I do not believe that the HD is the problem in this case. It's not loud; it makes the normal noise that it should make (the soft rumbling, or the gargle).

I've tried a few things since my last response: disconnect the CD drive, re-clearCMOS for a few seconds, removing the sound card, removing some things that are connected to it externally, but with no avail.

Again, thank you for your input!

Did your computer ever make a single beep when starting? Dows it make the beep now?
A computer can't POST without 1 stick of good RAM. Try removing the memory (RAM) and polishing the contact strip on the edge. Then Install and remove the 1 stick 4 or 5 times to scuff the RAM socket. Then see if you can POST. Also reseat all cabling.

"If the HD was defective, I should still be able to at least boot into BIOS anyhow."

Not necessarily. A defective drive can make your computer do strange things. Sometimes that includes making it difficult to get into your bios Setup - you could try tapping the key (don't hold it down) to get into the bios as early as you can in the boot sequence - sometimes that works when it won't work later. The only way to be sure that isn't the problem is to disconnect the drive's data cable - if drive detection is set to Auto, which is often the default, you should have no problem accessing the bios.

Your power supply could be defective - they can partially work yet you can't boot all the way into Windows, or the computer can restart for no apparent reason.
Failing power supplies are common and can cause your symptoms.
Check your PS.
See response 4 in this:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...

You may be experiencing a problem of your ram having a poor connection in it's slots.
See response 2 in this - try cleaning the contacts on the ram modules, and making sure the modules are properly seated:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...